The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-04


It's pretty late In the day TO deny
the abolltiOnists that credit TO which
they are entitled In making this q
land without slavery. A democratic
exchange few days ago had this 70
say: "The old-time abOlltionists did
not free the negro"
Then who did free him? The war
was most truly not begun for the
emancipation Of the slaves, for had
it been the pronounced policy Of the
government 70 give them their free
dom the UEiOn cause would have
been almost stranded at the opening
Of that terrible chapter which ended
with the sacrifee Of 30 many lives
and cost immense treasure. Mr..
Lincoln, in issuing the emancipation
proclamation, treated the subject
with the utmost caution, and he
made the carrying out Of its prOvi-
sions contingent upon the rebels not
laying down their arms. That he
was thoroughly convinced those who
sought 20 destroy the government
proposed to fight TO the bitter end,
and they knew not the word surren-
der, can not be doubted, but Mr..
Lincoln took the course he did take
TO educate the country up to a belief
in the necessitg Of negro emancipa-
ton. Even then the war was alluded
TO a. ian abolition var" The army
itself, Il will be remembered, did not
take kindly to the proposition to en-
rioy cOlOred men a. soldiers i'm the
field. Emancipation was not one Of
the purposes Of the government
when fret putting her forces in the
field for the defense Of the Union,
but was one Of the UeneOmitant
parts which ensued IN the great
struggle. Mr.. Lincoln was bitterly
opposed to African slavery, but he
~ the chief executive Of the govern
ment was imbued with the purpose
and determination 10 cOnfine his acts
90 a strict subservienee to cOnstitu-
tional provisions, even while yet
dealing with a power that has
placed itself wholly without the.pale
Of governmental protection or au-
thority as TO either themselves or
their slaves OF property. Mr.. Lin
coin was one OF those men who alb
horred human slavery, and believed
its existence not only reproach but
an impediment to the advancement
Of the country, but he desired to see
il eradicated from our soil by pacifi-
catOry means. There was a great
deal Of theory in this mode Of resOn-
ing but less Of actual practice.
The abOlitionists caused the greater
discussion on the subject Of slavery.
They entertained no fellowship in
any form for slavery. They did not
place themselves In the front Of the
battle when the war did come, but
il was to the irreconcilable OppOsi-
tiOn Of Wendall Phillips, William
Lloyd Garrison and others Of their
stamp that the war was made posi-
BILE. Without the war slavery would
scarcely have been abolished for a
century OF two to come, and In the
meantime the Republic bid fair to go
down i'm general wreck as did the
Republics of Europe In superstiti-
fion and anarchy.
Il Is not true to history and to the
knowledge Of the generation now
living TO detract any part Of the
work done by the abOlitiOnists.
There were those who resisted the
encrOachment Of slavery upon Kan
sas and other free soil, but they did
not aim to interfere with slavery a.
itexisted. The aim Of the abolition
lists was not only to arrest its ad-
vance but 10 force il from every
inch Of the American Union. The
discussion maddened the slave-hOld-
ers and then came the war and negro
Acknowledgement.
Technically the "Old-time abOli-
tionists" did not free the slaves but
without them slavery would exist to-
day in the Union.